The Himalayan has a white body, with a colored nose, ears, feet and tail. They come in black, blue, lilac and chocolate. They generally weigh about 4 1/2 lbs, and have long, 'snaky' bodies. (Pictures of Himalayas frequently show them lying stretched out very long to highlight this). They are said to have 'sweet' temperments.

The Himalayan is said to be one of the oldest established breeds. Other names for the breed include: The Chinese, the Russian, the Black nose, the Egyptian, etc. They were shipped to the US from England in the early part of the 20th Century. At the time, Himalayan fur was the most highly-prized of any breed (see Rex rabbit).